The Latest in Christmas Trees

.





Tired of the same old same old when it comes to Christmas trees? Is the traditional tree just not cutting it these days? Perhaps you'll have a hard time seeing the forest for the trees with the alternatives I've found (since some of these hardly qualify as "trees" in the first place), but on the eternal quest for variety and newness, here are some of the latest Christmas tree designs coming down the pike.

Modern Christmas Tree 5.
Stray Dog Mini Trees
For smaller spaces or for an extra splash of holiday fare, you could try these funky little tin numbers by StrayDog designs. They come in two sizes (20" or 25" high) and assorted colors, and a group of them could make for a really cool (albeit pricey) whimsical forest. An extra-large, 51" striped version is handmade in Mexico and comes with flower magnets to display pictures and holiday cards.

Ten stars compete for BBC award

shortlist of 10 stars has been named for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday.
Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton, boxers Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe, plus athletes Paula Radcliffe and Christine Ohuruogu are among the contenders.

Golfer Justin Rose, motorcyclist James Toseland, tennis player Andy Murray and England rugby stars Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson complete the candidates.

A public phone vote decides the winner during a live show on BBC One.

Millions of viewers are set to tune in for the programme hosted by Gary Lineker, Sue Barker and Adrian Chiles.

An audience of nearly 8,000 people at the NEC in Birmingham will see a range of awards being presented at the sell-out event.

Hamilton is rated favourite by the bookmakers to win the trophy, which was lifted by world equestrian champion Zara Phillips in 2006.

Hatton's odds would have shortened dramatically if he had beaten Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, but the Hitman was stopped in the 10th round.

The shortlist was drawn up by canvassing the top 10 selections of more than 30 sporting experts, including a range of newspaper editors.

Three current world champions and three runners-up are on the shortlist, with a total of seven sports represented:


Joe Calzaghe - Undisputed world super-middleweight boxing champion.

Lewis Hamilton - World championship runner-up in his rookie Formula One season.

Ricky Hatton - Fought bravely but lost to Floyd Mayweather on eve of show.

Andy Murray - Broke into the world top 10 despite an injury that ruled him out of Wimbledon.

Christine Ohuruogu - Returned from one-year ban for missing three drugs tests to land world 400m title in Osaka.

Paula Radcliffe - Won the New York Marathon just 10 months after giving birth to a baby daughter.

Jason Robinson - Retired after playing key part in England making the Rugby World Cup final.

Justin Rose - Captured golf's European Order of Merit title.

James Toseland - Claimed the World Superbikes Championship for the second time.

Jonny Wilkinson - Shrugged off injury to help England to Rugby World Cup final.
For the second year running, no footballer has made the list - Northern Ireland's record-breaking striker David Healy and Scotland star James McFadden did not gain enough votes.
Frankie Dettori was among the award favourites earlier in the year, but does not feature despite his emotional Derby win on Authorized.

Joint champion jockey Seb Sanders, who shared the title with Jamie Spencer, was the 11th most popular choice in the nominations.

In addition to the main honour, there will also be several other awards, including the Top Team prize.

Other winners announced on the night and decided by judging panels will include Coach of the Year, Overseas Personality and Young Personality.

And the Sports Unsung Hero honour, supported by Robinsons, goes to a volunteer who has made a real difference to a club or team.

The BBC also gifts two special honours - lifetime achievement, and the Helen Rollason Award for achievement in the face of adversity.

Haarhuis close to title hat-trick

Watch live on BBC TV and the BBC Sport website (UK users only)
Defending champion Paul Haarhuis is one win away from a hat-trick of titles at the Royal Albert Hall after beating Sergi Bruguera in the semi-finals.

The Dutchman moved into the final of the BlackRock Masters Tennis with a stunning 6-4 6-2 victory over Bruguera.

Haarhuis will meet Guy Forget in Sunday's final after the Frenchman beat compatriot Cedric Pioline 6-7 6-4 10-4.

"It's going to be a good match up, I think Guy is playing well and he's serving well," said Haarhuis.

"He must be playing well to be in the finals. I played him three or four weeks ago in Liege and it was a very close match.

"I think he's got good momentum, he's won all four of his group matches so he must be confident. I'll have to play well and if I play like I did today then I have a chance."

Delicious food for special day

Roast pheasant with gravy
A truly versatile bird and certainly plentiful during the winter months. The flavour and texture are dependent on several things: the age of the bird, its sex and how long it has been allowed to hang. Likewise these factors determine the best way to cook it. A younger bird will be more tender and makes a nice roast; an older bird is better suited to long, slow cooking in a stew or casserole. One bird will feed two people and they are often sold in a brace. It's just as easy to roast two as it is one and if there are any leftovers, the meat makes an excellent cold winter salad.

INGREDIENTS:

2 oven-ready pheasants
1 small apple, cut into quarters
salt and pepper
softened butter
4 pieces of unsmoked streaky bacon
good quality chicken stock
2 tbsp port or full-bodies red wine
1 tsp flour


PREPARATION:

1. Preheat the oven to 200C / gas mark 6. Place the pheasants in a medium size roasting tin so they fit comfortably but not too close together.
2. Stuff each of the cavities with 2 of the apple quarters. Season all over with salt and pepper and smear the breasts, legs and thigh with the softened butter, keeping 1 tea spoon aside for the gravy.

3. Cut the bacon in half and lay over the breasts. Tie the legs together loosley with string. Pour enough chicken stock into the bottom of the roasting tin so it comes approximately 1cm / 1/2 inch up the sides.

4. Roast for 40-45 minutes, basting with the pan juices every 10 minutes or so. For the final 10 minutes, add the port or red wine.

5. When cooked, remove the pheasants to a serving dish and keep warm. Place the roasting tin with the pan juices on a high heat and bring to a simmer. Mash the reserved butter and flour together to make a paste and whisk into the gravy to help thicken it. Stir and simmer for 2 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding more stock, port or wine, depending on how thick or thin you like it.

Delicious food for special day

Roast pheasant with gravy
A truly versatile bird and certainly plentiful during the winter months. The flavour and texture are dependent on several things: the age of the bird, its sex and how long it has been allowed to hang. Likewise these factors determine the best way to cook it. A younger bird will be more tender and makes a nice roast; an older bird is better suited to long, slow cooking in a stew or casserole. One bird will feed two people and they are often sold in a brace. It's just as easy to roast two as it is one and if there are any leftovers, the meat makes an excellent cold winter salad.
Dish Details:




INGREDIENTS:

2 oven-ready pheasants
1 small apple, cut into quarters
salt and pepper
softened butter
4 pieces of unsmoked streaky bacon
good quality chicken stock
2 tbsp port or full-bodies red wine
1 tsp flour





PREPARATION:

1. Preheat the oven to 200C / gas mark 6. Place the pheasants in a medium size roasting tin so they fit comfortably but not too close together.
2. Stuff each of the cavities with 2 of the apple quarters. Season all over with salt and pepper and smear the breasts, legs and thigh with the softened butter, keeping 1 tea spoon aside for the gravy.

3. Cut the bacon in half and lay over the breasts. Tie the legs together loosley with string. Pour enough chicken stock into the bottom of the roasting tin so it comes approximately 1cm / 1/2 inch up the sides.

4. Roast for 40-45 minutes, basting with the pan juices every 10 minutes or so. For the final 10 minutes, add the port or red wine.

5. When cooked, remove the pheasants to a serving dish and keep warm. Place the roasting tin with the pan juices on a high heat and bring to a simmer. Mash the reserved butter and flour together to make a paste and whisk into the gravy to help thicken it. Stir and simmer for 2 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding more stock, port or wine, depending on how thick or thin you like it.

Enjoy and Save money this Christmas

For the past few years, I've had a recurring nightmare. It's the day before Christmas and I haven't bought anything for my family and friends. Since it's the 11th hour, I'm throwing caution to the wind, buying overpriced, impersonal gifts as my panic rises.

The moral of this dream is that gift-giving angst is not about generosity; it's about projecting an image. Because I've waited until the last minute (because I'm not in control of my money) my Christmas will put me in the poorhouse once again.

And as I'm wrapping those presents I won't even feel good about them. How could I, knowing what their consequences will be and how little real thought they reflect?

So what could be some alternatives to the great Christmas shopping binge?

Imagine that you will only spend what you have. No credit card purchases. And no putting yourself last, so that come January you have to forgo the root canal because your gift buying put you in hock. It may mean you can spend very little. Is this terrible? No. And by using these tips, you can make the holidays meaningful without breaking the bank.

Make it personal
Why not purchase something small but relevant for each person on your list, and write out a note by hand telling them how you feel about them? You can include in your note your new decision about Christmas, and what it means to you.

Agree on spending amounts as a family
Another possibility for avoiding self-destruction is 'The Limit'. With The Limit, everyone agrees ahead of time not to spend more than such-and-such for each person's gift.
Sound stringent? Not really in the true spirit of Christmas? Not so. One of the best Christmases my family ever had was when we decided on a £20 limit per person. My son and his wife initiated the idea (they'd had a lot of expenses that year) and it turned out the rest of us were only too thrilled to comply. The presents were more fun that year. And gone was the great Christmas morning anxiety: will my gifts be good enough? Will they fit? Will she think I'm slighting her?

Think small
Finally, there's 'The Stocking.' Using this technique, you only buy what fits into the Christmas stocking. This can be the main Christmas present or the launch of festivities that makes smaller presents later feel quite satisfying.
Good gifts for the stocking include soaps, scents, candles, a favourite chocolate, funny little toys, gloves, whatever fits. Somebody in our family even got a turbocharged nose hair clipper!The idea is to be witty, have fun and enjoy small luxuries. I'd rather have one Godiva chocolate than ten thousand chocolate buttons.

Sure, it takes guts to deconstruct Christmas and make it work for you, but the payoff is fabulous. You are with loved ones. It is warm and the candles are glowing. When you have a Christmas created with thoughtfulness and affection, as well as within budgetary constraints, January looks a whole lot brighter.


Related Links
Hosting Christmas on a budget Tips for family budgeting Work & Money Home